Aloof

adv. (orig. phr.), a. and prep. Forms: 6 a loofe, a luf, alowfe, aloufe, 6–7 a loof, aloofe, alooff, 6– aloof. [f. A prep.¹ + LOOF, luff, weather-gage, windward direction; perh. immed. from Du. loef, in te loef to windward, loef houden to keep the luff, etc.; cf. Dan. luv, Sw. lof, perh. also from Du. The orig. meaning of Du. loef, and connection with ME. lof, loof, some kind of rudder or apparatus for steering (see Sir F. Madden, notes to Layamon, III. 476), are not clear: see Skeat s.v. Aloof and Luff. From the idea of keeping a ship’s head to the wind, and thus clear of the lee-shore or quarter towards which she might drift, came the general sense of ‘steering clear of,’ or ‘giving a wide berth to’ anything with which one might otherwise come into contact. See also LUFF.]

  A.  adv.

  † 1.  phr. Naut. The order to the steersman to turn the head of the ship towards the wind, or to make her sail nearer the wind. Obs.; now LUFF.

1549.  Compl. Scotl., vi. 41. Than the master cryit on the rudir man, mait keip ful and by, a luf.

1587.  Gascoigne, Wks., 165. Aloofe, aloofe then cryed the master out.

1620.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Praise of Hempseed, 12. Aluffe; clap helme a lee.

1678.  Phillips, Aloofe, a term used in conding the Ship, when she goes upon a Tack, commonly spoken by the Condoy unto the Steersman, when he doth not keep so near the wind as she may ly.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Aloof, The old word for ‘Keep your luff’ in the act of sailing to the wind.

  b.  fig.

1775.  Sheridan, Duenna, I. iii. 319. I thought that dragon’s front of thine would cry aloof to the sons of gallantry.

  2.  adv. Naut. Away to the windward. To spring aloof: see LUFF.

1532.  More, Confut. Barnes, VIII. Wks. 1557, 759/2. This anker lyeth to farre aloufe fro thys shyppe.

1592.  Wyrley, Armorie, 33. A looffe to winde-ward all our Nauie wride [= wry-ed], To view the turne right goodlie was the sight.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., IX. 635. With all our force we kept aloof to sea.

1762.  Falconer, Shipwr., II. 817. Whene’er loud thund’ring on the leeward shore, While yet aloof, we hear the breakers roar. Ibid., II. 189. She springs aloof once more.

  3.  Hence gen. Of position: Away at some distance (from), with a clear space intervening, apart; esp. with the vbs. hold, keep, sit, stand.

c. 1540.  J. Croke, Ps. cii. (1844), 20. No frende draweth nere, I syt alowfe.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Paraphr., Mark xiv. 54. Howbeit he folowed Jesus aloofe.

1611.  Bible, Ps. xxxviii. 11. My louers and my friends stand a loofe from my sore [Coverdale a farre].

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, III. 100. With troups of the light-armed shot and slingers, compelled the enemie to lie a-loof.

1647.  Corbett, Iter Bor., 270. Wee care not for those glorious lampes aloofe.

1791.  Cowper, Iliad, V. 562. They stand aloof Quaking.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 328. He quitted his seat, and stood aloof.

1878.  Emerson, Sov. Ethics, in N. Amer. Rev., CXXVI. 406. Heat is not separate, light is not massed aloof.

  4.  Of action: From a distance; not at close quarters.

a. 1547.  Earl Surrey, Æneid, IV. (R.). The stricken hinde … which chasing with his darte Aloofe the shepheard smiteth.

1568.  Like will to Like, in Hazl., Dods., III. 311. Then speak aloof, for to come nigh I am afraid.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XXXVIII. xxi. 996 k. Certaine speares to use aloofe [eminus].

1622.  Bacon, Henry VII., 105. Untill he had first aloofe seene the Crosse set up.

1671.  Milton, P. R., V. 310. The lion and fierce tiger glared aloof.

1830.  Tennyson, Ode to Mem. Purple cliffs, aloof descried.

  5.  fig. Without community of action or feeling. esp. in phr. To stand, keep, hold aloof (from): to hold back, keep clear; to take no part in, show no sympathy with.

1583.  Babington, Wks., 399. [Lying] … maketh them hang aloofe, suspect, and bee strange one to another.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., V. ii. 258. I stand aloofe, and will no reconcilement.

1781.  Cowper, Charity, 59. God stood not, though he seemed to stand, aloof.

1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., 132. We felt for them as men; but we kept aloof from them.

1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, V. xliii. 287. Sparta it seems kept aloof from this struggle.

1859.  Masson, Milton, I. 635. The English Puritans held aloof at this time from the poor sectaries.

1879.  Farrar, St. Paul, I. 236. Peter was not the man to stand coldly aloof.

  † 6.  In senses 3, 4, 5, 7, formerly strengthened by off. (Cf. clear off, far off.) Obs.

1571.  Digges, Geomet. Pract., I. xxx. You desire with shotte to beat the enemie aloofe of.

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 130/2. He withdraweth him selfe, and keepeth him selfe a loofe off.

1618.  Hist. P. Warbeck, in Harl. Misc. (1793), 82. A true woman’s part … in standing a-loof off from what I most desire.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1675), 345. Those that gaze at them aloof off.

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 106. He could not feel himself, whilst playing aloof off, to have wheeled about into the selfsame snare.

  7.  As compl. or pred.: At a distance; distant.

1607.  Bacon, Ess., Empire (Arb.), 298. Solid and grounded Courses to keepe them [dangers] aloofe.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 548. When he is aloofe to others, they shall haue familiar accesse.

1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, France & It., I. 78. To keep infection aloof.

1845.  Trench, Huls. Lect., Ser. I. vi. 96. Psalms become our own which before were aloof from us.

  † B.  Hence attrib. as adj. Distant. Obs. rare.

1608.  Chapman, Byron’s Trag., Wks. 1873, II. 271. These aloofe abodes.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 8. A Prophet not to vouchsafe to come … but to send an aloofe message.

  † C.  prep. [short for aloof from.] Away from, clear of, apart from. Obs. rare.

1643.  Milton, Divorce, II. iv. (1847), 141/1. Rivetus … would fain work himself aloof these rocks and quicksands. Ibid. (1667), P. L., III. 577. Where the great Luminarie Alooff the vulgar Constellations thick … Dispenses Light from farr.